Tennis racket



Nov. 17, 1931. GREENSPAN 1,832,298-

TENNIS RACKET Filed July 19. 1929 INVEN TOR. liq/D59 Greenspan partly in section,

Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES.

f I I 1,8 2 9 IRVING GnE ENsraN, or mama; nnwfironx I TENNIS anemia" Application filed July 19,

This invention relates to a jointed tennis racket and its object is to provide a device of this character in which the elements may be taken apart and laid, the one overthe other 1 in such a manner as to occupya greatly reits simplest form.

Fig. 2 shows a transverse view of the handle at the joint as indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 shows a more elaborate construction in which the handle butt is removable. I

F ig. 4 shows a side view of the illustration seen in Figure 3.

Fig. 5 shows the racket detached and folded together.

Fig. 6 shows a handle butt of larger size.

Fig. 7 shows a fragmentary View of a modification of the main joint with threaded shank.

Fig. 8 shows in enlarged scale, a modified form of a side bolt and wire.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, the device comprises a frame 10, a handle 11, a snap catch 12, a shank 13, a reinforcement 14 and the usual cross strings 15. The frame The sheathing 20, which is preferably of metal, is secured to the frame'lO and forms a covering for the groove 22'. The bolts 23 are otherwise secured to the flexible wires 24;. These wiresrunralong the grooves and are securedwithina slidable end. piece 25. The spring26 servesto push-this back when the handle llsis removed; This'motion draws the bolts 23 and permits of folding the frame as seen .in Figure 5. Still referring to Figure;13 it willbe seenthat the shank 13 fits into the socket of the handle ll,being secured against turning bythe tongue and groove30. The? shank is locked by ,the snap catch 12 which is on the spring strip 31. .5

-Tlf1'e handle-butt 32 seen in this figure slides over the shank 33 and is locked by thesnap catch 34. This also is tongue and grooved to prevent turning. A. rod 35 is secured in the handle-butt at 36 and when the assembled handle is formed onto the shank 13 it engages the end piece 25 and pushes it forward thus 7 forcing the bolts 23 into engagement with the forward portion of the frame.

The racket is shown folded together in Figure 5. The end piece 25 may be seen in this view in its open position extending outward from the shank 13.

A handle-butt 32 ofextra large size is shown detached in Figure 6. Any number of sizes of these butts may be adapted for use with the racket. I

The modification shown in Figure 7 provides a screw threaded shank as seen at 38.

In Figure 8 is shown a modified form of a side bolt in which the flexible wire 24 terminates in a bolt of increased diameter which will give greater rigidityto the joint.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a tennis racket, a stringed frame, a shank at the base thereof, hinged joints at the sides of the said frame, side bolts slidable from the base portions of the frame into the adjacent forward frame elements, a slidable member within the aforesaid shank,

, means to connect the same with the said bolts,

a handle element attach able on the said shank,

of tempered metal and are Welded, or

and means within the said handle element to V 2 Hi r 1,832,295

7 2. A tennis racket comprising a foldable frame, strings secured thereto, bolts engaging the adjacent portions of the said frame, rooves'in the sides of thesaid frame and iiexible Wires Within the grooves and secured to the said bolts, a slidable end member secured to the flexible Wires, and the said end member encased within a shank at the base of the frame, a handle fitted to the said shank, a

a handle-butt mounted on the handle, and a rod Within the said butt','which rod engages 7 the end member and by means of same forces the bolts into operative positions, I

8. In combination With a tennis racket, a

stringed frame jointed at the sides thereof bolts engaging the, adjacent portions ofthe frame at the joints, a handle 'remo'vably setaehed to the said'frame, a handle-butt detachably mounted on the said handle, and means to actuate the aforesaid bolts through elements which co act with the said handle butt. 7 V a .7 4. A tennis racket comprising two-frame sections hingedly connected, ahandle remov c ably attached to one of the frame sections, meansfor locking said sections in inoperative positions, and means for releasing said locking means upon removal of saidha-nd-le. v p

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. v.

I IRVING GREENSPARP 

